Same sport, different room
Fitness boxing looks much the same in either format: a warm-up, footwork and technique, rounds on the heavy bag, pad work with a coach or partner, and conditioning between rounds. What changes is who is in the room, who you are paired with, and who coaches.
Boxing training at RPM is fitness boxing of this kind. For what makes the coaching good in any format, see what makes a gym good for boxing. This page is about the room.
Comfort, partners and coaching side by side
| Women-only sessions | Mixed class | |
|---|---|---|
| Comfort | No men watching, and freedom to wear what you are comfortable training in | Some women hold back at first, while others do not mind at all |
| Partner work | Partners closer in size and strength more of the time | Partners vary, so ask how pairing works |
| Holding pads | Women hold pads for each other, or the coach does | You may hold pads for a heavier hitter, and need to learn to brace |
| Coaching | Often a female coach | Any coach on the roster |
| Group size | Often smaller | Often larger, with more noise and energy |
| Timetable | Fewer sessions to choose from | More sessions each week |
| Sparring | Optional and supervised, if offered at all | The same rule should apply |
| Space and kit | Depends where the sessions run, so ask which bags and space are used | Usually the main bag area |
Who each format suits
Women-only sessions suit you if:
- you are trying boxing for the first time and would rather learn among women
- you want partner drills with people closer to your size
- a female coach makes it easier for you to ask questions and be corrected
- you dress modestly in public and prefer to train in lighter clothes
A mixed class suits you if:
- you need the widest choice of session times
- you train harder in a big, loud group
- you want a range of partners, including heavier hitters, to sharpen your defence on the pads
- your husband or brother boxes and you want to train in the same session
Partner work, and the trade-offs people miss
Most of the difference shows when the class pairs off. In a mixed class, a lighter woman may be paired with a heavier man to hold pads or drill defence. A good coach handles this by matching partners and keeping contact light, but ask before you join.
- Fewer sessions. Women-only boxing often runs once or twice a week, so one missed session leaves a week-long gap.
- Closer coaching, fewer partners. A small session often means more of the coach's attention but fewer people to rotate with.
- Where it runs. Women-only sessions may use a different space from the main bag area, so ask what equipment is there.
- Self-defence is a different class. It usually focuses on awareness and escapes rather than boxing technique, so ask which one a session really is.
- Moving up. If you later want harder training, a mixed class may be the next step, so ask whether you can move between formats.
Questions to ask before you book
| About women-only sessions | About a mixed class |
|---|---|
| When do they run, and how often? | How big is the class at the time I would come? |
| Who coaches them? | How are partners paired for pads and drills, and can I ask to work with a woman? |
| Where do they run, and with which bags? | Is there an introductory session for beginners? |
| Is it boxing, self-defence or a mix of both? | Is sparring ever part of the class? |
Ask both whether to bring your own gloves and wraps.
Worked example: a student who wants to learn properly
Take a university student who has never boxed. She wants to learn the basics properly and get fitter, and she is nervous about being paired with men. Her gym offers one women-only session a week and three mixed classes.
| She weighs | Women-only session | Mixed classes |
|---|---|---|
| Comfort while learning | High | Lower at first |
| Sessions a week | One | Up to three |
| Partner drills | With women of a similar size | Partners vary |
| Coach | A female coach | Whoever runs the class |
She starts with the women-only session and, after a month, once her stance and guard feel natural, adds one mixed class a week. In the mixed class she asks the coach to pair her with women on the pads. By the third month she does both every week.
Boxing at RPM
RPM offers fitness boxing: bag work, pad work and conditioning. It runs in the functional area of the Mixed section, used by men and women, where heavy bags hang beside a turf lane with a sled. RPM's roster also lists Imen Hasnaoui as the combat and self-defence coach in the women-only Ladies section.
Session formats change, so ask the team which boxing and combat sessions are running, when, and in which section. Fitness boxing does not require sparring. If you are interested in it, ask whether it is offered and how it is supervised, rather than assuming it is. Which sections a membership covers depends on the tier, so confirm yours.
Questions, answered.
Will I be paired with men in a mixed boxing class?
Possibly, for pad work or drills. Ask how partners are chosen and whether you can work with women. A good coach matches partners by size and experience.
Is women-only boxing easier?
Not necessarily. The workload can be every bit as hard. What changes is the room and the partners.
Do I have to spar in either format?
No. Sparring is a separate step that fitness boxing does without. Where a gym offers it, it should be your choice and closely supervised.
What should I wear to a women-only boxing session?
Whatever you train comfortably in, with flat trainers. Ask whether the session has a dress code, and whether to bring gloves and wraps.
Can a complete beginner join a mixed class?
Usually, if the coach scales the session for newcomers. Ask whether there is an introductory session first.